Image forming apparatus, method for controlling image forming apparatus, and program

Abstract

To reduce the time and effort of a user in job settings.SOLUTION: An image forming apparatus executing a job related to image processing has: setting means that performs settings so that a UI screen according to an application for executing the job is in a state of any one variation, which is selected by a user, of a plurality of variations; management means that stores set values after being changed by the user to execute the job on the UI screen in the state of the set variation, in association with information on the set variation; and control means that, when the variation currently set on the basis of the user's selection is changed to another variation, displays the UI screen in a state of the another variation by using a set value associated with information on the another variation, of the set values stored in the management means.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 4

Description

Technical Field

[0001] This disclosure relates to job settings.

Background Art

[0002] Image forming apparatuses capable of executing jobs such as copying, scanning, and faxing are known. When causing an image forming apparatus to execute a job, a user may want to execute the job with the same setting values as the previous setting values.

[0003] Patent Document 1 discloses a method of authenticating a user who logs in and storing job setting values for each user.

Prior Art Documents

Patent Documents

[0004]

Patent Document 1

Summary of the Invention

Problems to be Solved by the Invention

[0005] When multiple users repeatedly execute jobs with the same setting values, such as regular operations, in the method of Patent Document 1, each of the multiple users needs to set the same setting values, which is troublesome. Therefore, when the setting values of a job are changed, a method of storing the setting values of the job without associating them with a user can be considered.

[0006] However, there may be multiple regular operations with different job setting values. In this case, when a user changes the job setting values to perform another regular operation, the changed setting values are saved. For this reason, the user needs to manually change the setting values every time starting another regular operation, which causes trouble to the user.

[0007] An object of this disclosure is to reduce the labor of a user when setting a job.

Means for Solving the Problem

[0008] The image forming apparatus of the present disclosure is an image forming apparatus that executes a job related to image processing, and a setting means for setting a UI screen according to an application for executing the job to be in a state of any one of a plurality of variations selected by a user, and a management means for storing, in association with the information of the set variation, a set value after the user changes it in the UI screen in the state of the set variation to execute the job, and when the variation is changed from the currently set variation to another variation based on the user's selection, a control means for displaying the UI screen in the state of the other variation using the set value associated with the information of the other variation among the set values stored by the management means. It is characterized by having.

Advantage of the Invention

[0009] According to the present disclosure, the labor of the user at the time of job setting can be reduced.

Brief Description of the Drawings

[0010]

Figure 1

Figure 2

Figure 3

Figure 4

Figure 5

Figure 6

Figure 7

Mode for Carrying Out the Invention

[0011] Hereinafter, embodiments of the technology of the present disclosure will be exemplarily described with reference to the drawings. The components described in the following embodiments are merely examples and are not intended to limit the scope of the technology of the present disclosure thereto.

[0012] <Embodiment 1> FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing the hardware configuration of the image forming apparatus 100 according to the present embodiment. The image forming apparatus 100 includes a controller unit 101, a scanner 111, a printer 112, a display operation unit 107, and a communication unit 109.

[0013] The controller unit 101 controls the operation of the entire image forming apparatus 100. Specifically, the controller unit 101 controls the scanner 111, the printer 112, the display operation unit 107, and the communication unit 109. The controller unit 101 includes a CPU 102, a RAM 103, a ROM 104, an HDD 105, a display operation unit I / F 106, a network I / F 108, and a device I / F 110, which are connected by a system bus 120.

[0014] The RAM 103 is a system work memory for the operation of the CPU 102 and an image memory for temporarily storing image data. The RAM 103 stores programs such as an operating system, system software, and application software, or data. Also, the RAM 103 stores the data of the scanned image obtained by the scanner 111 reading a document, or stores the print data received by the controller unit 101 via the network. The ROM 104 stores the system boot program. The hard disk drive (HDD) 105 is a non-volatile storage unit that stores an operating system, system software, application software, print data, setting data, and the like. The CPU 102 reads the program stored in the ROM 104 into the RAM 103 and executes it to perform various controls for executing jobs described later.

[0015] The display operation unit I / F 106 is an interface unit with the display operation unit 107. The display operation unit 107 includes, for example, a liquid crystal display unit (touch panel) having a touch panel function and physical buttons and the like. For example, the physical buttons include a home button for returning to the home screen.

[0016] The operation performed by the user on the display operation unit 107 is converted into a signal by the display operation unit I / F 106 and received by the CPU 102. For example, the position touched by the user on the touch panel of the display operation unit 107 is detected, and a signal representing the information of that position is generated. The CPU 102 can identify the position touched by the user on the touch panel by analyzing the signal. Also, the display operation unit I / F 106 outputs the information of the screen to be displayed on the touch panel of the display operation unit 107 to the display operation unit 107.

[0017] The network I / F 108 is connected to the communication unit 109 and performs various communication controls with external devices (not shown).

[0018] The device I / F 110 connects the printer 112 and the controller unit 101. The printer 112 has a mechanism for printing the image indicated by the image data on a recording medium. Also, the device I / F 110 connects the scanner 111 and the controller unit 101. The scanner 111 reads a document and generates scan image data representing the content of the read document. The generated scan image data is input to the controller unit 101 via the device I / F 110.

[0019] Note that the HDD 105 may be included in an external device that is a device different from the image forming apparatus 100. In this case, the CPU 102 stores data in the HDD 105 of the external device via the communication unit 109, and also acquires data from the HDD 105 of the external device via the communication unit 109.

[0020] When the controller unit 101 receives an execution instruction for the copy function from the user, it causes the scanner 111 to read the original document to obtain the scanned image data of the original document, and controls the printer 112 to print the scanned image on paper. When the controller unit 101 receives an execution instruction for the scan transmission function from the user, it causes the scanner 111 to read the original document to obtain the scanned image data of the original document. Then, the scanned image data is converted into code data and transmitted to an external device (not shown) via the communication unit 109. A series of processes based on execution instructions for each function such as the copy function and the scan transmission function are called jobs. The image forming apparatus 100 also functions as a job processing apparatus that executes jobs corresponding to each function. The functions corresponding to the jobs executed by the image forming apparatus 100 are not limited to the copy function and the scan function.

[0021] [Functional Configuration] FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing the functional configuration of the image forming apparatus 100 according to the present embodiment.

[0022] The image forming apparatus 100 includes a plurality of applications 220 for realizing each function. Among the plurality of applications 220, the application selected by the user is started and the selected application operates. The plurality of applications 220 include a copy application 221 that executes the job of the copy function described above, a scan transmission application 222 that executes the job of the scan transmission function, a fax application 223, and the like. The scan transmission application 222 is an application that executes a job of transmitting the scanned image data obtained by scanning the original document by the scanner 111 to an external device. The plurality of applications 220 shown in FIG. 2 are an example of applications that execute jobs related to image processing operating on the image forming apparatus 100.

[0023] Further, the image forming apparatus 100 includes a screen control unit 211, a job control unit 212, a job execution unit 213, a network control unit 214, a slot setting unit 215, and a set value management unit 216.

[0024] The screen control unit 211 performs display control to display on the touch panel of the display operation unit 107 the screen provided by the application in operation. Further, based on the signal from the display operation unit 107, the screen control unit 211 identifies the position touched by the user on the touch panel of the display operation unit 107. Then, it instructs the application in operation to execute the process associated with the operation button or the like corresponding to the position touched by the user.

[0025] The job control unit 212 automatically sets the jobs of the application in operation. For example, it sets the job by storing the set value stored in the HDD 105 in the RAM 103. When it is identified that the job execution button has been pressed, the job execution unit 213 acquires the set value stored in the RAM 103 and causes the application in operation to execute a job based on the acquired set value. For example, when the application in operation is a scan transmission application, when the execution of the job is instructed, the job control unit 212 causes the scanner 111 to read the document placed on the document table through the device I / F 110 and generate scan image data. The network control unit 214 controls the communication unit 109 through the network I / F 108 and transmits data to an external device.

[0026] The slot setting unit 215 sets the numbers of the slots described later. The set value management unit 216 stores the set value in the non-volatile storage unit in association with the number of the slot. Further, when the user changes the set value to execute a job, the set value management unit 216 automatically updates the set value associated with the currently set slot number to the changed set value.

[0027] The functions of each block in FIG. 2 are realized by the CPU 102 reading out a predetermined program stored in the ROM 104 or the HDD 105 and executing it, but it is not limited to this. For example, other hardware such as a GPU (Graphics Processing Unit) for accelerating calculations or an FPGA (Field Programmable Gate Array) may be used. Each function may be realized by the cooperation of software and hardware such as an application-specific IC, or some or all of the functions may be realized by hardware only. Each functional unit 211 to 216 in FIG. 2 may be configured to be included in each application 220.

[0028] [Regarding slots] In this embodiment, the application manages the values (set values) of each setting item of the job for each unit called a "slot". The unit for managing this set value is also called a "setting slot". For example, it is assumed that the scan transmission application 222 manages the set value of the job in association with any one of the four numbers "1", "2", "3", and "4", which are the numbers of the slots. Also, the number of the slot selected by the user is managed for each application.

[0029] The set value associated with each number of the slot and the number of the slot last selected by the user are controlled to be stored in a non-volatile storage unit. "Stored in a non-volatile storage unit" is defined as being retained with the same content unless an explicit change instruction is given by the user. For example, the set value associated with a certain slot number is controlled to be stored in the HDD 105, which is a non-volatile storage unit, until an explicit instruction to change the set value is given by the user. Therefore, for example, when the power of the image forming apparatus 100 is turned on again, the set value associated with each number of the slot and the number of the slot are retained as the values before the power was turned on again.

[0030] [Regarding the job execution screen] FIG. 3 is a diagram showing an example of a job execution screen, which is a user interface screen (UI screen) displayed during the operation of an application launched via a home screen (not shown). In FIG. 3, as an example, a job execution screen displayed during the operation of the scan transmission application 222 is shown. The user can set (change) the set values of each setting item during the job execution of the scan transmission application 222 and instruct the execution of the job via the job execution screen shown in FIG. 3.

[0031] The job execution screen of the present embodiment includes tabs 317 to 320 for the user to select the slot number. When any one of the tabs 317 to 320 is pressed, a job setting screen corresponding to the slot number indicated by the pressed tab is displayed.

[0032] FIG. 3(a) is a diagram showing a job execution screen of the scan transmission application displayed when the slot number is set to "1". The job execution screen 310 includes a plurality of operation buttons. For example, the plurality of operation buttons are a job execution button 321 and setting buttons 313 to 316. The screen control unit 211 identifies the operation button pressed by the user, and the application performs processing corresponding to the identified operation button.

[0033] The setting buttons 313 to 316 are operation buttons for the user to set the job. The user can change the set values of each setting item during the job execution by pressing the setting buttons 313 to 316. The job execution screens 300 and 310 in FIG. 3 include a destination setting button 313, a paper size setting button 314, a resolution setting button 315, and a file format setting button 316 as job setting buttons.

[0034] The destination setting button 313 is an operation button for setting the destination, such as adding, deleting, or modifying the address of the transmission destination of the scanned image data. When the destination setting button 313 is pressed, a screen (not shown) for selecting the transmission destination is displayed. When an address is selected on that screen, the scan transmission app 222 sets the selected address as the transmission destination. The set address is displayed in the transmission destination display area 312.

[0035] The paper size setting button 314 is an operation button for setting the size when the scanner 111 reads the document. When the paper size setting button 314 is pressed, a screen (not shown) including options for the reading size is displayed, and the user can set the desired reading size on that screen.

[0036] The resolution setting button 315 is an operation button for setting the resolution when the scanner 111 reads the document and converts it into scanned image data. The resolution setting button 315 includes a "+" button for increasing the resolution and a "-" button for decreasing the resolution. The user can operate the "+" button and the "-" button to set the desired resolution.

[0037] The file format setting button 316 is an operation button for changing the file format of the scanned image data obtained by the scanner 111 reading the document. When the file format setting button 316 is pressed, a screen (not shown) is displayed, and the user can set the desired file format on that screen.

[0038] The job execution button 321 is an operation button for instructing the execution of a job based on the set values set through the job execution screens 300 and 310 in the running application. When the job execution button 321 displayed on the job execution screens 300 and 310 of the scan transmission app 222 is pressed, the scan transmission job is executed.

[0039] Tabs 317 to 320 are buttons for the user to select the numbers of the aforementioned slots. Tab 318 is a button for changing the slot number to "1". Tab 318 is a button for changing the slot number to "2", Tab 319 is a button for changing the slot number to "3", and Tab 320 is a button for changing the slot number to "4". The currently set slot number is stored in HDD 105.

[0040] In this embodiment, it is assumed that, in response to the pressing of Tabs 317 to 320 on Job Execution Screens 300 and 310 displayed on the touch panel of Display Operation Unit 107, the slot number after the change is set. The method of changing the slot number may be a method other than using tabs. For example, the slot number may be displayed using a pull-down instead of a tab. Or, a physical button for changing the slot number may be included in Display Operation Unit 107, and the slot number may be changed in response to the pressing of that button.

[0041] FIG. 3(a) shows a job execution screen when the slot number is set to "1". For this reason, in FIG. 3(a), Tab 317 corresponding to the set slot "1" is controlled to be displayed more prominently than the other Tabs 318 to 320.

[0042] Title Display Area 301 is an area for displaying the name of the application in operation. Title Display Area 301 is display-controlled so that the background of Title Display Area 301 and the background of Tab 317 corresponding to the slot number "1" are the same color or pattern, so that the user can recognize that the currently set slot number is "1". Such a display enables the user to recognize the currently set slot number.

[0043] FIG. 3(b) is a diagram showing a job execution screen 310 of a scan transmission application that is displayed when the slot number is set to "2". For this reason, in FIG. 3(b), the tab 318 corresponding to the set slot "2" is controlled to be displayed more prominently than the other tabs 317, 319, and 320. In the title display area 311 of FIG. 3(b), the display is controlled so as to have a background matching the background of the tab 318 with the slot number "2" currently set.

[0044] Also, the background of the title display area 311 in FIG. 3(b) is controlled to be different from the background of the title display area 301 in FIG. 3(a) so that the user can recognize that the currently set slot number is "2". In this way, in the present embodiment, the background of the title display area of the job execution screen is controlled to be different for each currently set slot number. That is, in the present embodiment, as the job execution screen provided by the application, a plurality of variations of job execution screens with different backgrounds are controlled to be displayed for each slot number.

[0045] Note that the expression method for allowing the user to recognize the currently set slot number is not limited to this method. For example, the overall color tone of the job execution screens 300 and 310 may be changed according to the currently set slot number. Or, the character strings displayed in the title display areas 301 and 311 may be made different for each currently set slot number.

[0046] Note that it is assumed that the job execution screens 300 and 310 of the present embodiment are not provided with buttons for resetting the set values to the initial values. For this reason, the description will be made assuming an image forming apparatus in which when the set value of the set item group on the job execution screen 310 is changed, the set value is maintained as it is until it is changed next.

[0047] [Flowchart] FIG. 4 is a flowchart for explaining job setting value management executed by the image forming apparatus 100 in the present embodiment. A series of processes shown in the flowchart of FIG. 4 are performed by the CPU 102 expanding and executing program codes stored in the ROM 104 or the HDD 105 in the RAM 103. Also, some or all of the functions of the steps in FIG. 4 may be realized by hardware such as an ASIC or an electronic circuit. Note that the symbol "S" in the description of each process means each step in the flowchart, and the same applies to the subsequent flowcharts.

[0048] In FIG. 4, a flowchart of job setting value management when the scan transmission application 222 among a plurality of applications is started is shown. The scan transmission application 222 is an example, and for other applications such as copy and fax transmission being started, the same processing as the flowchart of FIG. 4 is performed.

[0049] Note that the image forming apparatus 100 of the present embodiment is an image forming apparatus that does not perform user authentication. For this reason, it is assumed that the user can operate the image forming apparatus 100 without logging in.

[0050] On a home screen (not shown), when the user designates the scan transmission application 222 and the screen control unit 211 gives an instruction to display a job execution screen to the scan transmission application 222, the flowchart of FIG. 4 starts.

[0051] In S401, the scan transmission application 222 acquires an instruction to display a job execution screen from the screen control unit 211.

[0052] In S402, the scan transmission application 222 acquires the number of the slot stored in the HDD 105, and reads the acquired slot number into the RAM 103 in order to set the acquired slot number.

[0053] In S403, the scan transmission app 222 acquires the set value stored in association with the slot number stored in the RAM 103 among the job set values of the scan transmission app 222 stored in the HDD 105. Then, the acquired set value is stored in the RAM 103. When the set value of the scan transmission app 222 is not stored in the HDD 105, the initial value of the set value is stored on the RAM 103.

[0054] In this embodiment, the set values of the scan transmission app 222 associated with the numbers of the respective slots are stored in the HDD 105. For example, files for each slot number, which include the set values set by the user when the corresponding slot number was set, are stored in the HDD 105. In S403, the file corresponding to the slot number stored in the RAM 103 is acquired from the HDD 105, and the acquired file is stored on the RAM 103, so that the set value corresponding to the currently set slot number is restored in the RAM. This method is an example of a method for managing set values for each slot number, and other methods may be used. For example, the set values may be managed in one file by managing them so that the set values associated with each of the numbers of a plurality of slots can be distinguished within the file. Alternatively, the set values associated with each slot number may be managed using software such as a database.

[0055] FIG. 5 is a diagram for explaining the set values of the scan transmission app 222 stored in the HDD 105. Each row of the table in FIG. 5 illustrates the set values of the set item group associated with the slot number, which are stored in separate files in the HDD 105.

[0056] The "set of setting items" is assumed to indicate a collection of setting items for the jobs executed by the running application. For example, when the running application is the scan transmission application 222, the set of setting items is assumed to indicate a collection of setting items such as "destination", "paper size", "resolution", and "file format". Note that the set values stored in the HDD 105 do not have to be all the set values that can be set on the job execution screens 300 and 310. For example, the item "destination" does not have to be included in the "set of setting items", and the set value of "destination" does not have to be stored in the HDD 105.

[0057] In S404, the scan transmission application 222 displays, on the touch panel of the display operation unit 107, a job execution screen that reflects the set values stored in the RAM 103.

[0058] For example, when the scan transmission application 222 ends with the slot number selected as "1", the HDD 105 stores the slot number as "1". Also, assume that set values are stored in the HDD 105 as shown in FIG. 5. In this state, when the scan transmission application 222 is started again and the flowchart of FIG. 4 is started, the slot number "1" is restored to the RAM 103 in S402. In S403, the set values associated with the slot number "1" among the set values shown in FIG. 5 are restored to the RAM 103. As a result, in S404, a job execution screen 300 in which the set values associated with the slot number "1" as shown in FIG. 3(a) are reflected is displayed.

[0059] In S405, the scan transmission app 222 waits for the user's operation on the display operation unit 107, and when the user operates the display operation unit 107, it acquires the content of the operation. When an operation button on the job execution screens 300, 310 displayed on the touch panel of the display operation unit 107 is pressed by the user, the scan transmission app 222 acquires the information of the pressed operation button via the screen control unit 211. Also, when a home button (not shown) for returning to the home screen included in the display operation unit 107 is pressed, the scan transmission app 222 acquires that the home button has been pressed.

[0060] In S406, the scan transmission app 222 switches the process according to the user's operation on the display operation unit 107.

[0061] In S406, when the scan transmission app 222 determines that the type of the acquired user operation is "job setting", it executes the processes of S407 to S408. "Job setting" means, for example, an operation of changing setting items related to the scan transmission job such as adding or deleting a transmission destination and setting the resolution by pressing any of the setting buttons 313 to 316 on the job execution screens 300, 310 in FIG. 3.

[0062] In S407, the scan transmission app 222 acquires the set value after the change of the setting item that the user has changed this time. Then, the scan transmission app 222 updates the set value of the setting item that has been changed this time among the set values stored on the RAM 103 so that it becomes the set value after the change.

[0063] In S408, the scan transmission app 222 updates the set value associated with the number of the currently set slot among the set values stored on the HDD 105 so that it becomes the set value after the change.

[0064] For example, assume that the user changes the setting value of any setting item via the job execution screen 300 in a state where the slot number is set to "1". In this case, the setting value included in the file corresponding to the slot "1" in the HDD 105 is updated to the changed setting value. For example, when the content of "paper size" is changed from "A4" to "B4" in the job execution screen 300 of FIG. 3(a), "B4" is obtained as the changed setting value. Then, the setting value of "paper size" associated with the slot number "1" stored on the HDD 105 is updated to the changed "B4". Then, the scan transmission app 222 returns the process to S406.

[0065] In this way, when the setting value is changed by the user's operation, without the user's instruction to store the setting value, the setting value stored in association with the number of the currently set slot among the setting values stored in the HDD 105 is updated.

[0066] Next, in S406, when the scan transmission app 222 determines that the type of the acquired user operation is "slot number change", the processes of S409 to S411 are executed. The operation in which the type of the user operation is "slot number change" corresponds to an operation of pressing a tab other than the tab corresponding to the number of the currently set slot among the tabs 317 to 320.

[0067] In S409, the scan transmission app 222 updates the slot numbers stored in the HDD 105 and the RAM 103 so that the slot number corresponding to the tab selected by the user among the tabs 317 to 320 is set.

[0068] In S410, the scan transmission app 222 acquires the setting value stored in association with the changed slot number stored in the RAM 103 among the setting values of the scan transmission app 222 stored in the HDD 105. Then, by storing the acquired setting value in the RAM 103, the setting value of the changed slot number is restored on the RAM 103.

[0069] In S411, the scan transmission application 222 reflects the set values stored in the RAM 103 on the job execution screen displayed on the touch panel.

[0070] For example, assume that the operation acquired in S405 is an operation of pressing the tab 318 corresponding to the slot number "2". Also, assume that the set value corresponding to the slot number "2" is stored in the HDD 105 as shown in FIG. 5. In this case, in S411, display control is performed so that the job execution screen 310 in the state of FIG. 3(b) is displayed.

[0071] In this way, when an operation for changing the slot number by the user is performed, a job execution screen in which the set values stored in association with the changed slot number in the HDD 105 are reflected is displayed. For this reason, even when the user temporarily changes the slot number to "1", changes the set value, and executes the job, when the slot number is returned to "2", the set values previously set by the user in the state where the slot number is "2" are restored to the job execution screen 310.

[0072] Next, in S406, when the scan transmission application 222 determines that the type of user operation is "job execution", it executes the processes of S412 to S413. The type of user operation being "job execution" is an operation for executing a job, and corresponds to an operation of pressing the job execution button 321.

[0073] In S412, the scan transmission application 222 generates scanned image data of the original by causing the scanner 111 to scan the original according to the set values stored in the RAM 103 via the job control unit 212. During the execution of the job, the scan transmission application 222 displays a dialog (not shown) for notifying the user that scanning is in progress in front of the job execution screens 300 and 310.

[0074] In S413, the scan transmission application 222 transmits the scanned image data to an external device corresponding to the set value (address) of the "destination" setting item stored in the RAM 103 through the network control unit 214. The scan transmission application 222 displays a dialog (not shown) for notifying the user that it is in the process of transmission until the transmission of the scanned image data is completed on the front of the job execution screens 300 and 310.

[0075] Also, in S407, when the scan transmission application 222 determines that the type of the acquired user operation is "return to the home screen", the scan transmission application 222 ends this flowchart. The type of user operation "return to the home screen" is an operation of pressing a home button (not shown) of the display operation unit 107. When returning to the home screen and the scan transmission application 222 is selected, the flowchart of FIG. 4 starts again.

[0076] At this time, in the HDD 105, the number of the slot set when the "return to the home screen" button is pressed is stored. Therefore, in the flowchart of FIG. 4 started when the user activates the scan transmission application 222 next, in S403, the set value associated with the number of the slot stored in the HDD 105 is stored (restored) in the RAM 103. And in S405, a job execution screen in which each setting item is automatically set in advance according to the set value associated with the number of the slot stored in the HDD 105 is displayed. In this way, the set value set when the previous application was terminated is restored to the job execution screen.

[0077] Also, in this embodiment, the number of the slot and the set value are stored in the non-volatile storage unit. Therefore, even when the power of the image forming apparatus 100 is turned off, the user can restore the set value set last time to the job execution screen.

[0078] As described above, in the present embodiment, even when a user who performs a task with multiple setting patterns of jobs to be repeatedly executed uses the image forming apparatus, it is possible to suppress the need to reset the setting values for each task. Further, in the present embodiment, each time the user changes the setting value, control is performed so that the changed setting value is automatically stored in the HDD 105, so that the user does not need to explicitly instruct the storage of the changed setting value. Therefore, according to the method of the present embodiment, the user's labor is reduced. Thus, according to the present embodiment, it is possible to provide an image forming apparatus with improved usability.

[0079] <Embodiment 2> In the present embodiment, a method for managing job setting values different from that of Embodiment 1 will be described. Regarding the present embodiment, the description will focus on the differences from Embodiment 1. For parts not specifically stated, the same configuration and processing as in Embodiment 1 are used.

[0080] [Regarding the temporary slot] In the present embodiment, the slot number includes a number corresponding to the "temporary slot". The setting values of the job changed by the user via the job execution screen in a state where the "temporary slot" is set are controlled to be stored in the volatile storage unit. "To be stored in the volatile storage unit" is defined as the setting values of the job performed by the user being reset to the initial values at a specific timing. For example, the setting values of the job set by the user are stored in the RAM 103 for the execution of the current job, but are controlled not to be stored in the HDD 105. Therefore, in the present embodiment, when the slot number is changed to a number corresponding to the "temporary slot", control is performed so that a job execution screen in which the item values of each setting item are the initial values is displayed.

[0081] In Embodiment 1, the set values of the job changed by the user via the job execution screen were controlled to be "stored in a non-volatile storage unit" so as to be restored in the next job. However, when the user executes a one-time job that is not scheduled to be executed again, the user may want to set the job from the initial values. Therefore, in this embodiment, by providing a temporary slot, the user can set the job from the initial values.

[0082] [Regarding the job execution screen] FIG. 6 is a diagram showing the job execution screen 600 of this embodiment. For the same configuration as the job execution screen 300 of Embodiment 1, the same reference numerals are given and the description is omitted.

[0083] In this embodiment, a tab 612 for the user to select a temporary slot is included. The slot number indicating the temporary slot is assumed to be "0" as an example, but it may be a different number, character string, or figure.

[0084] FIG. 6 shows a job execution screen in a state where the slot number is set to "0". For this reason, in FIG. 6, the tab 612 corresponding to the set slot "0" is controlled to be displayed more prominently than the other tabs 317 to 320.

[0085] The title display area 611 is controlled to have a background that allows the user to recognize that the set slot number is "0". For example, the display is controlled so that the background of the title display area 611 and the background of the tab 612 corresponding to the selected slot "0" have the same color or pattern. Such a display makes it easier for the user to recognize the currently set slot number.

[0086] [Flowchart] FIG. 7 is a flowchart for explaining the job setting value management process executed by the image forming apparatus 100 in the present embodiment. A series of processes shown in the flowchart of FIG. 7 are performed by the CPU 102 expanding and executing program codes stored in the ROM 104 or the HDD 105 in the RAM 103. Also, some or all of the functions of the steps in FIG. 7 may be realized by hardware such as an ASIC or an electronic circuit.

[0087] The flowchart of FIG. 7 is obtained by adding new steps to the flowchart of FIG. 4 in Embodiment 1. Therefore, in the flowchart of FIG. 7, the same steps as those in the flowchart of FIG. 4 are given the same numbers in FIG. 7. For this reason, in the description of the flowchart of FIG. 7, steps different from the flowchart of FIG. 4 will be described.

[0088] In the present embodiment, S701 is executed after S402. In S701, since the scan transmission application 222 branches the process depending on whether or not a "temporary slot" is set, it determines whether the number of the currently set slot is the number of the "temporary slot". When the scan transmission application 222 determines that the number of the currently set slot is the number of the "temporary slot" (S701 is YES), the process proceeds to S702.

[0089] In S702, the scan transmission application 222 stores an initial value as the set value of the set item group of the job of the scan transmission application 222 in the RAM 103. Then, when proceeding to S404, the scan transmission application 222 controls so that a job execution screen in which the initial value restored in the RAM 103 is displayed as the setting of each set item is displayed. The initial value is a value indicating the initial state, for example, the set value at the time of shipment of the image forming apparatus 100.

[0090] On the other hand, when the scan transmission application 222 determines that the number of the currently set slot is not the number of the "temporary slot" (S701 is NO), the process proceeds to S403 described in FIG. 4.

[0091] Also, in S406, when the scan transmission app 222 determines that the type of the acquired user operation is "job setting", the process proceeds to S407. In this embodiment, the process of S711 is executed after S407.

[0092] S711 is a step equivalent to S701. The scan transmission app 222 branches the process based on whether the "temporary slot" is set, and determines whether the number of the currently set slot is the number of the "temporary slot". When the scan transmission app 222 determines that the number of the currently set slot is not the number of the "temporary slot" (S711 is NO), the process proceeds to S408. In S408, as described above, the set value changed by the user is associated with the number of the currently set slot and stored in the HDD 105. Then, after S408, the process returns to S405.

[0093] On the other hand, when the scan transmission app 222 determines that the number of the currently set slot is the number of the "temporary slot" (S711 is YES), since the set value changed by the user is not stored in the HDD 105, S408 is skipped. Then, the process of returning to S405 is performed.

[0094] As described above, when the currently set slot is the slot described in Embodiment 1, the set value stored in the HDD 105 is updated to the set value changed by the user's operation. On the other hand, the set value changed by the user's operation in the state where the "temporary slot" is set is not stored in the HDD 105. For this reason, in the "temporary slot", it is realized that the content of the job setting by the user is controlled to be stored in the volatile storage unit.

[0095] Also, in S406, when the scan transmission app 222 determines that the type of the acquired user operation is "slot number change", the process proceeds to S409. In this embodiment, the process of S721 is executed after S409.

[0096] In S721, the scan transmission application 222 determines whether the number of the currently set slot is the number of the "temporary slot" in order to branch the process based on whether the changed slot is the "temporary slot".

[0097] The number of the currently set slot is the number of the slot currently stored in the RAM 103. In S409, which is the step before this step, the number of the changed slot selected by the user this time is stored in the RAM 103. Therefore, in this step, the number of the currently set slot refers to the number of the changed slot.

[0098] If the scan transmission application 222 determines that the number of the currently set slot is not the number of the "temporary slot" (S721 is NO), the process proceeds to S410. In S410, as described above, the set value of the number of the changed slot stored in the HDD 105 is restored to the RAM 103. Then the process proceeds to S411. On the other hand, if the scan transmission application 222 determines that the number of the currently set slot is the number of the "temporary slot" (S721 is YES), the process proceeds to S722.

[0099] In S722, the scan transmission application 222 resets the set values of the set item group of the scan transmission application 222 stored in the RAM 103 to the initial values. Then the process proceeds to S411. When proceeding to S411, the scan transmission application 222 controls so that the job execution screen is displayed with the initial values of each set item, which are the set values restored to the RAM 103. Then the process returns to S405. In this way, when changed to the "temporary slot", by performing the process of S722 instead of S412, the control of resetting the set value to the initial value is realized.

[0100] Also, in S406, when the scan transmission app 222 determines that the type of the acquired user operation is "execution of a job", in this embodiment, after S412 to S413, the process of S731 is executed.

[0101] S731 is a step equivalent to S701. The scan transmission app 222 branches the process based on whether the "temporary slot" is set, and determines whether the number of the currently set slot is the number of the "temporary slot".

[0102] When the scan transmission app 222 determines that the number of the currently set slot is not the number of the "temporary slot" (S731 is NO), the process returns to S405 as in Embodiment 1. On the other hand, when the scan transmission app 222 determines that the number of the currently set slot is the number of the "temporary slot" (S731 is YES), the processes of S722 and S411 are performed. That is, when the temporary slot is set, by performing the process of S722 after the execution of the job, the control to reset the set value to the initial value is realized.

[0103] As described above, according to this embodiment, the jobs repeatedly executed with the same settings are suppressed from setting the set value every time, and the single jobs not scheduled to be repeated can be set from the initial value. Therefore, according to this embodiment, an image forming apparatus with improved usability can be provided.

[0104] <Other Embodiments> The present disclosure can also be realized by supplying a program that realizes one or more functions of the above-described embodiments to a system or apparatus via a network or a storage medium, and one or more processors in a computer of the system or apparatus reading and executing the program. It can also be realized by a circuit (for example, ASIC) that realizes one or more functions.

[0105] The disclosure of the above-described embodiments includes the following configurations.

[0106] (Configuration 1) An image forming apparatus that executes a job related to image processing, setting means for setting a UI screen according to an application for executing the job to be in a state of any one of a plurality of variations selected by a user; management means for storing, in association with the information of the set variation, a set value after the user changes it in order to execute the job on the UI screen in the state of the set variation; When changed from the currently set variation to another variation based on the user's selection, control means for displaying the UI screen in the state of the other variation using the set value associated with the information of the other variation among the set values stored by the management means; An image forming apparatus characterized by comprising the above.

[0107] (Configuration 2) The management means, stores the set values associated with the information of the plurality of variations in a non-volatile storage unit The image forming apparatus according to Configuration 1, characterized by the above.

[0108] (Configuration 3) further includes the non-volatile storage unit The image forming apparatus according to Configuration 2, characterized by the above.

[0109] (Configuration 4) Among the variations set by the setting means, there is a first variation different from the plurality of variations, The management means, does not store in the non-volatile storage unit the set value after the user changes it in order to execute a job on the UI screen in the state of the first variation The image forming apparatus according to Configuration 2 or 3, characterized by the above.

[0110] (Configuration 5) The control means When displaying the UI screen in the state of the first variation, displays the UI screen in which the set value is the initial value The image forming apparatus according to Configuration 4, characterized in that

[0111] (Configuration 6) The control means After the user instructs the execution of the job from the UI screen in the state of the first variation, displays the UI screen in which the set value is the initial value The image forming apparatus according to Configuration 5, characterized in that

[0112] (Configuration 7) Further includes a display unit for displaying the UI screen The image forming apparatus according to any one of Configurations 1 to 6, characterized in that

[0113] (Configuration 8) Information indicating the current variation state is stored in a non-volatile storage unit, and The control means When the application is started and the UI screen is displayed, displays the UI screen corresponding to the information indicating the current variation state stored in the storage unit The image forming apparatus according to any one of Configurations 1 to 7, characterized in that

[0114] (Configuration 9) The control means Displays at least a part of the background of the UI screen to be different for each of the plurality of variations The image forming apparatus according to any one of Configurations 1 to 8, characterized in that

[0115] (Configuration 10) The setting means When an operation of a user for pressing a predetermined tab included in the UI screen is performed, the currently set variation is changed to the other variation The image forming apparatus according to any one of Configurations 1 to 9, characterized in that

[0116] (Configuration 11) Further having a scanner The application is an application that executes a job of transmitting scan image data obtained by the scanner scanning a document The image forming apparatus according to any one of Configurations 1 to 10, characterized in that

[0117] (Configuration 12) The management means Every time a set value is changed by a user via the UI screen, the set value associated with the variation information indicated by the UI screen is updated to the set value after the change The image forming apparatus according to any one of Configurations 1 to 11, characterized in that

[0118] (Configuration 13) Accept a job setting by the user without performing authentication of the user The image forming apparatus according to any one of Configurations 1 to 12, characterized in that

[0119] (Configuration 14) A control method for an image forming apparatus that executes a job related to image processing, comprising A setting step of setting a UI screen corresponding to an application for executing the job to be in a state of any variation selected by a user from a plurality of variations A storage step of storing, in association with the information of the set variation, the set value after the user changes it to execute the job on the UI screen in the state of the set variation When the currently set variation is changed to another variation based on the user's selection A display step of displaying the UI screen in the state of the other variation by using the set value associated with the information of the other variation among the stored set values; A control method characterized by comprising the above.

[0120] (Configuration 15) A program for causing a computer to execute each means of the image forming apparatus according to any one of Configurations 1 to 13.

Explanation of Signs

[0121] 100 Image forming apparatus 215 Slot setting unit 216 Set value management unit 211 Screen control unit

Claims

1. An image forming apparatus that executes a job related to image processing, setting means for setting a UI screen according to an application for executing the job to be in a state of any one of a plurality of variations selected by a user; management means for storing, in association with the information of the set variation, the set value after the user changes it in order to execute the job on the UI screen in the state of the set variation; control means for displaying the UI screen in the state of the other variation using the set value associated with the information of the other variation among the set values stored by the management means when the variation is changed from the currently set variation to another variation based on the user's selection; An image forming apparatus, characterized by comprising the above.

2. The management means stores the set values associated with the information of the plurality of variations in a non-volatile storage unit The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, characterized by the above.

3. further comprising the non-volatile storage unit The image forming apparatus according to claim 2, characterized by the above.

4. Among the variations set by the setting means, there is a first variation different from the plurality of variations, The management means does not store, in the non-volatile storage unit, the set value after the user changes it in order to execute a job on the UI screen in the state of the first variation. The image forming apparatus according to claim 2, characterized by the above.

5. The control means when displaying the UI screen in the state of the first variation, displays the UI screen in which the set value is the initial value. The image forming apparatus according to claim 4, characterized by the above.

6. The control means when the user instructs execution of the job from the UI screen in the state of the first variation, displays the UI screen in which the set value is the initial value. The image forming apparatus according to claim 5, characterized by the above.

7. further comprising a display unit for displaying the UI screen The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, characterized by the above.

8. Information indicating the state of the current variation is stored in a non-volatile storage unit, The control means When the application is launched to display the UI screen, the UI screen corresponding to the information indicating the state of the current variation stored in the storage unit is displayed. The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, characterized in that.

9. The control means displays at least a part of the background of the UI screen to be different for each of the plurality of variations. The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, characterized in that.

10. The setting means When an operation of a user pressing a predetermined tab included in the UI screen is performed, the currently set variation is changed to the other variation. The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, characterized in that.

11. Further having a scanner, The application is an application that executes a job of transmitting scan image data obtained by the scanner scanning a document. The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, characterized in that.

12. The management means Every time the set value is changed by the user via the UI screen, the set value associated with the variation information indicated by the UI screen is updated to the set value after the change. The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, characterized in that.

13. Accept the job setting by the user without performing user authentication. The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, characterized in that.

14. A control method for an image forming apparatus that executes a job related to image processing, setting a UI screen according to an application for executing the job to be in a state of any variation selected by the user from a plurality of variations; storing, in association with the information of the set variation, the set value after the user changes it to execute the job on the UI screen in the state of the set variation; When the currently set variation is changed to another variation based on the user's selection, displaying the UI screen in the state of the other variation using the set value associated with the information of the other variation among the stored set values; A control method characterized by comprising.

15. A program for causing a computer to execute each means of the image forming apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 13.

Images